Fiji Airways' New Flight Drastically Cuts Travel Time From US to the Great Barrier Reef

21 hours ago 1

Flying to one of the most striking natural wonders of the world just got a little simpler, thanks to Fiji Airways.

The South Pacific carrier has launched a new regional flight from Nadi, Fiji to Cairns, Australia, also known as one of the main gateways to the Great Barrier Reef off the coast of Queensland.

First launched on April 10, the new route will operate three times per week all year round. Fiji Airways aligned the new Cairns-bound route with its recently launched long-haul service from Dallas-Fort Worth to Nadi, which began in December 2024, so U.S. travelers can have easy, one-stop access to Cairns.

Both routes operate on the same days to make connections as seamless as possible.

Transiting in Nadi will be a more streamlined option, thanks to its reduced congestion compared to other airports, allowing travelers to connect more efficiently and reach the Great Barrier Reef—as well as the region’s stunning tropical beaches and the Daintree Rainforest—faster than ever before.

“Destinations such as Los Angeles and San Francisco are now just 16 hours away, slashing nearly three hours of travel time” on the way to Cairns, according to Richard Barker, CEO of Cairns Airport.

Fiji Airways will operate the nearly five-hour-long flights from Nadi and Cairns with its Boeing 737 Max 8 planes, flying on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. The jets are outfitted with two cabin classes, including a business class cabin featuring eight spacious seats with a roomy 51 inches of pitch; the remaining 162 seats are in the economy cabin and offer a respectable 32 inches of pitch.

The carrier also joined the Oneworld alliance and American Airlines AAdvantage loyalty program earlier this spring, meaning members of both programs can now receive benefits on Fiji Airways, such as priority boarding, lounge access, as well as earning and redeeming miles.

Fares on the just-launched route are now on sale, with roundtrip tickets in economy Lite class currently available for as low as $389 for travel in May 2025.

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